Doping Knowledge, Beliefs and Practices Among Physiotherapists

Abstract

To study the knowledge, beliefs and practices of doping in sports among physiotherapists. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted amongst 390 physiotherapists working in different hospitals/clinics and teaching universities of Lahore with response rate of 94.61% (n=369). Modified Doping Use Belief tool was used to assess beliefs regarding use of performance enhancement drugs, other questions were used to check doping knowledge and practice of these drugs. SPSS v22.0 was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Out of 369 respondents, 272 (73.7%) were females and 97 (26.3%) were males. Mean age was 27±4.4 years. In general knowledge about doping, 196 (53.1%) never studied sports course, 238 (64.5%) had no information about doping, 204 (55.3%) were not aware of banned substances, and 312 (84.6%) had information through media. Specifically about doping, 240 (65%), 174 (47.3%), 250 (67.7%), 238 (64.5%), and 229 (62.1%) had no knowledge about prohibited list, therapeutic use exemptions, procedures of anti-doping testing, anti-doping rule violation, and sanctions on anti-doping rule violations respectively. Majority (n=238; 64.5%) had scarcity of knowledge about health risks related to doping. Regarding beliefs, 281 (76.2%) and 259 (70.2%) had a disagreement on belief that performance-enhancing drugs/methods should be allowed for top-level athletes and all athletes respectively. In practice, 347 (94%) never offered any doping agent and 314 (85.1%) never had any experience with doping drugs. CONCLUSION: Physiotherapists had a low knowledge on doping. Majority of respondents showed positive belief of non-use of doping agents, and in practice majority had never practiced doping drugs.